Re: USB Mixer or Guitar Interface?

On Jan 13, 2:42 am, "Robert Machado" <robmach...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I've got a budget of about $200 reserved for a piece of guitar related
equipment that has passed the approvalof the wife:  A way for me to record
my guitar through the computer.

I currently run Guitar --> pedals --> modeler (Behringer V-Amp 2) --> Mic
input of my laptop.  The reason for the modeler is because the Modeler has
dual outputs (although I could always split the output of the last pedal and
go directly into the Mic and bypass the modeler).  My amp does not have a
line out.  I would like to get something where I can run through the USB
port of the laptop instead of the Mic input.

I would like whatever I get to have a 1/4" input for a guitar and an XLR
input for a microphone.

Here is my dilema:  Do I get something where it's made for a guitar to go
through and then into the computer (Line 6 type of stuff), or do I go for a
small mixer that has a USB output?  My thought is that a small mixer would
be a lot more versitle than something desiged for a computer, and I don't
think that portability is an issue, although I haven't given that part a lot
of thought.

I have no experience with anything out there in regards to either of my
options, and I'm always open to suggestions.

Would prefer to not have someting that is rack mounted.

Thanks in advance for your insights and suggestions.

Thanks!

Rob

I've used a bunch of converters from cheap to really expensive. There
is a family of items that would suit you well that you can buy for
$200 that are durable and sound good. They are the Tascam US-family
like the US-428 as my first choice for you to look at. There are
smaller ones that might suit your needs just fine but this is an 8
channel mixer with 4 in/out through USB and has a 2 midi in and 2 out
as well. It also has headphone jacks, stereo outs XLR and line ins and
sp/dif too. The reason this one is best is that they live in great
numbers on ebay and you can get one cheap used. They last well so you
don't have to worry bout geting a DOA. The sound is good - more then
adequate for a self release meant for sale at gigs. They have
transport controls and faders to control automation and EQ's, etc.

The faders are not motorized so they are not the best thing out there
but they do help and since you can use it as a mixer too, you get both
of the things you were hoping for.

I just did a ebay search and found several of these for sale. I also
did a completed items check on ebay and found several that sold in the
$90's! and one that sold for $132. That is an absolute steal for
something like this and I don't know why they are so cheap. I actually
have one of these that I bought new a while back for about $450. I
have used the converters and though they are not as good as my motu
unit or my alesis AI-1s they are almost as good.

The thing bout converters is that (at least this use to be true) they
are all pretty much made by the same company. They difference in the
units is the math they do with the converter. The new stuff that you
can afford is probably the same converter with the same math as this.
Because this is older and there are many of them they are cheap.

Something else to consider is the power source. In the little units
out today, most of them get their power from the USB 3.5 volt power
supply. Avoid those like the plague! I had a few of those and they
just sucked big time! Buy something with its own power.

If you want to go high end and don't need all those features, look at
some of the motu units out there. You might find a deal on a used 2408
MKII (don't get anything lower though) you need a PCI card slot or
these so if you are running a laptop you can kiss this off.

I should mention that I have tracked 4 tracks through USB 1.1 with no
trouble at all on my mac G4 867 laptop.

some links: - the first has a list of features
http://www.crmav.com/recording/57/us428_usb_workstation_controller.shtml
http://dv411.com/us428.html
http://emusician.com/daw/emusic_tascam_us_macwin/


Good luck
.

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